A taxi driver was slapped with a parking ticket whilst helping a blind passenger into a pharmacy.
Gary Fox was charged £70 after parking in a disabled parking space in Middleton on Tuesday.
The 60-year-old, who has been a cab driver for 15 years, said he was away from the car ‘for two or three minutes at the most’ as he helped his regular customer Lenny Nicholson to get a prescription.
He was then ‘shocked’ to see a traffic warden slapping a parking ticket onto his screen as he did not have a blue badge.
His appeals against the fine have all been unsuccessful.
Mr Fox told Manchester Evening News: ‘I took Mr Nicholson from the car to the counter in the chemist and got someone to assist him. I left the car for two or three minutes at the most.
‘I was shocked. I had only just taken him into the chemist and came straight back. It was unbelievable. The traffic warden just came from nowhere.
‘There is no way he has not seen me taking the guy into the chemist. Why not think there is a nice guy helping a blind man?’
According to Mr Fox, the traffic warden said it was ‘not his problem’ after explaining he had been helping a blind customer.
However the taxi driver does not regret his actions, and would readily help Mr Nicholson again.
He said: ‘My job is to assist elderly and disabled people when I take them in my taxi, I’ve never encountered anything like this before. I’m disgusted and disappointed.
‘What happens next time? Do I say “you have to make your own way because I can’t stop here?”
‘I would feel very nervous but I’d still do the exact same thing again. I would not let the passenger down, especially if they were disabled.’
Rochdale council said: ‘People without disabilities who park in disabled bays take spaces away from the people who really need them. This can mean people with mobility problems having to walk longer distances or even being unable to reach their destination.
‘All drivers, but especially professional drivers like Mr Fox, should be aware that it is a legal requirement to display a blue badge while parking in a disabled bay and not having one can lead to a penalty charge notice being issued.
‘It should be noted that whether or not you drive a vehicle, disabled people are eligible to apply for a Blue Badge for use as a passenger.’
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